Victims of clergy abuse in Maryland are concerned that an upcoming deadline in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case will prevent survivors from coming forward.

Just hours before Maryland’s new law abolishing the statute of limitations for abuse victims was to take effect last year, the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection. Archbishop William Lori cited the potential for large legal settlements depleting church funds as the reason for seeking bankruptcy.

The bankruptcy court now oversees the Archdiocese’s finances and has set a May 31st deadline for abuse survivors to file claims against the church. After that date, no new claims will be accepted.

“All the good the legislature has done for victims has been thwarted by this bankruptcy filing,” said attorney Michael Belsky, who currently represents dozens of survivors.

Advocates argue the deadline is unfairly cutting short the new law intended to give victims unlimited time to seek justice. They worry many survivors, who often take decades to come forward, will miss the chance to hold abusers accountable. The bankruptcy proceedings have left clergy abuse victims feeling betrayed once again.